Tropical cyclone characteristics associated with extreme precipitation in the northern Philippines

The Philippines is exposed to Tropical Cyclones (TCs) throughout the year due to its location in the western North Pacific. While these TCs provide much-needed precipitation for the country’s hydrological cycle, extreme precipitation from TCs may also cause damaging hazards such as floods and landslides. This study examines the relationship between TC extreme precipitation and TC characteristics, including movement speed, intensity, and season, for westward-moving TCs crossing Luzon, northern Philippines. We measure extreme precipitation by the Weighted Precipitation Exceedance (WPE), calculated against a 95th percentile threshold, which considers both the magnitude and spatial extent of TC-related extreme precipitation. WPE has a significant, moderate positive relationship with TC intensity with a non-significant, weak negative relationship with movement speed. When TCs are classified by intensity one day before landfall (or pre-landfall), Typhoons (1-minute maximum sustained wind speed > 64 knots) tend to yield higher WPE than Non-Typhoons ( 11.38 knots). However, the relationship between pre-landfall TC intensity and WPE is more pronounced during June-September while there is no significant difference between the WPE of the Southwest Monsoon (June-September) and Northeast Monsoon (October-December) seasons. These results suggest that it is important to consider the pre-landfall cyclone movement speed, intensity, and season to anticipate extreme precipitation of incoming TCs. A decision table considering these factors is devised to aid in TC extreme precipitation forecasting

Understanding tropical cyclone precipitation in the Northern Philippines

In this thesis, I investigate different factors that affect Tropical Cyclone (TC) precipitation and characteristics in Luzon, the northern regions of the Philippines. This thesis is is divided into two parts: an observational study to establish relationships between TC characteristics and rainfall in Luzon, and modeling experiments to understand and explain the processes that link TC rainfall with the topography of Luzon. In the first part of this thesis, I investigate the relationship between TC extreme precipitation, TC characteristics, and the orography of the Philippines. I first introduced the Weighted Mean Precipitation Exceedance (WPE), a measure of extreme precipitation. WPE is adapted from different studies that calculate extreme precipitation based on extreme thresholds for specific regions, as well as the spatial coverage of precipitation in the said region. As the WPE calculates both intensity and extent in a single value, we are easily able to compare extreme precipitation for different TCs. For all TCs that cross Luzon between 1978-2015, we find that when comparing between intensity or movement speed categories, stronger or slower TCs that make landfall significantly yield higher WPE. The proportion of landfalling strong TCs, or Typhoons, is lower during June to September (29.58%) compared to the proportion of Typhoons making landfall in October to December (60.71%). However, the proportion of TCs that exceed the median WPE is higher during June to September (71.43%) compared to those making landfall during October to December (61.76%). This shows that the relationship between TC intensity and WPE is more pronounced during the months June to September — the Southwest Monsoon season in the Philippines. These results suggest that it is important to consider the pre-landfall cyclone movement speed, intensity, and season to anticipate extreme precipitation of incoming TCs. To explain the underlying processes that link TC winds, precipitation, and orography, for the second part of this thesis I conduct Numerical Weather Prediction experiments for eight different TCs for different heights of the Cordillera Mountain Range (CMR): Control, Flat, Reduced (0.5x height), and Enhanced (2x height). From the results, we find that precipitation along the mountain range increases for increasing CMR height on average. Comparing precipitation rates for the Flat and Reduced terrain profiles with the Control terrain shows an average increase of 5 mm/hr rain rates, with precipitation rates similarly increasing by 5 mm/hr between the Control and Enhanced terrain. There are no significant changes for TC movement speeds and TC position for different terrain profiles. Regarding TC intensity, TCs weaken as early as 21 hours prior to landfall for higher CMR elevation when comparing the Enhanced and Control experiments, while the TC strength is similar between the Flat/Reduced and Control experiments. It is possible that TC intensity is less sensitive to mountain ranges at or below the height of the actual CMR. We also find that mechanical uplift caused by stronger winds blowing up steeper slopes results in higher amounts of precipitation along the CMR. The results of this two-part study highlight the complexity of the relationships between TC characteristics, orography, environmental wind, moisture, and TC rainfall. Nevertheless, this study shows that features such as more intense TCs, the June to September monsoon season, and steeper mountain range slopes, are fundamentally linked to higher amounts of TC precipitation in the Philippines. The findings of this study can be used to fill gaps in current forecasting limitations and may help improve our response to potential hazards associated with TCs

Environmental Attitude and Environmental Behavior of Catholic Colleges’ Employees in Ilocos Sur, Philippines

International audienceThe study was intended to measure the understanding and attitudes of employees of Catholic Colleges in Ilocos Sur Province toward the environment and how such attitudes affect their behavior toward the environment. It was found that overall the employees were not certain related to their attitudes toward the environment and such ambivalent attitudes affect their behavior toward the environment. The study concludes that such ambivalent attitudes are caused by lack of understanding about environmental ethics. It is recommended therefore to improve awareness or understanding about natural environment through seminars on environment and to include environmental ethics in the curriculum

Moral Leadership of Middle-Lower Level Managers and Employee's Job Satisfaction of Divine Word Colleges in Region I, Philippines as Perceived by the Employees

The study wants to determine the effect of moral leadership and job satisfactionInternational audienceThe study was intended to measure the moral leadership of middle-lower level managers of Divine Word Colleges in Region I, Philippines and how it affects the job satisfaction of employees. In order to strengthen the study, theories on moral leadership were presented and related literature and studies were reviewed. The conceptual framework of the study was established on the four variables such as integrity, trust, ethical leadership, and honesty as independent variables and job satisfaction as dependent variable. The framework indicates the relationship of both variables: moral leadership and job satisfaction. Based on the conceptual framework, the statements of the problems were proposed and questionnaires were made. The questionnaires were adopted from the study of Foronda (2010). The study used the descriptive correlational research design and used Pearson r to determine the relationship between moral leadership and job satisfaction. The study found that moral leadership of middle-lower level managers of Divine Word Colleges in Region I, Philippines in terms of integrity, trust, ethical relationship and honesty is very good and that moral leadership correlates to job satisfaction of employees

Genetic and clinical characteristics of Filipino patients with Gaucher disease

Gaucher disease (GD) is a lysosomal storage disorder caused by the deficiency of the β-glucocerebrosidase enzyme due to disease causing mutations in the GBA1 (glucosidase beta acid) gene, leading to the abnormal accumulation of the lipid glucocerebroside in lysosomal macrophages. This is a review of the clinical features and molecular profiles of 14 Filipino patients with GD. Five patients presented with type 1 disease, two had type 2 GD and seven had type 3 GD. The age of onset for all types was between 1 and 2 years of age but there was a delay of 2.2 years from the time of symptom onset to confirmation of diagnosis. Hepatosplenomegaly, anemia and thrombocytopenia were present in most of the patients. Stunting was seen in 64.3% and bone abnormalities were present in 63.6%. The most common mutant allele detected in this cohort was L483P (previously L444P), followed by F252I, P358A and G241R. IVS2+1 G>A, N409S and G416S mutations were reported singularly. There were 3 patients who were found to have N131S mutations and one patient with D257V mutation, mutant alleles that have only been reported among the Filipinos to date. Except for N409S, the mutations found in this cohort were generally severe and were congruent with the severe phenotypes found in most patients. Of the 14 patients, only 6 were able to undergo enzyme replacement therapy which significantly improved the hematologic parameters and decreased the sizes of the liver and spleen but did not consistently improve the growth and skeletal abnormalities nor alleviate the neurological manifestations of our patients with GD. Improved monitoring through recommended modalities for assessments and tools for evaluation should be implemented in order to fully appreciate the severity of the disease and accuracy of the response to treatment. Keywords: Gaucher disease, Filipinos, β glucocerebrosidase, GBA1 mutations, Enzyme replacement therapy, Severe phenotyp

The effect of the Cordillera mountain range on tropical cyclone rainfall in the Northern Philippines

In this study, we examined the sensitivity of tropical cyclone (TC) characteristics and precipitation to the Cordillera Mountain Range (CMR) in Luzon, Philippines. Using the Weather Research and Forecasting (WRF) model, we simulated eight TCs with four different CMR orographic elevations: Control, Flat, Reduced, and Enhanced. We found that at significance level α=0.05, TC intensity significantly weakened as early as 21 h prior to landfall in the Enhanced experiment relative to the Control, whereas there was little change in the Flat and Reduced experiments. However, throughout the period when the TC crossed Luzon, we found no significant differences for TC movement speed and position in the different orographic elevations. When a TC made landfall, associated precipitation over the CMR increased as the mountain height increased. We further investigated the underpinning processes relevant to the effect of the CMR on precipitation by examining the effects of mountain slope, incoming perpendicular wind speed, and the moist Froude Number (Fw). Compared with other factors, TC precipitation was most strongly correlated with the strength of approaching winds multiplied by the mountain slope, i.e., stronger winds blowing up steeper mountain slopes caused higher amounts of precipitation. We also found that individually, Fw, mountain height, and upslope wind speeds were poor indicators of orographically induced precipitation. The effects of mountain range on TC rainfall varied with TC cases, highlighting the complexity of the mountain, wind, and rainfall relationship

Volcanoes magnify Metro Manila's southwest monsoon rains and lethal floods

Many volcanoes worldwide are located near populated cities that experience monsoon seasons, characterised by shifting winds each year. Because of the severity of flood impact to large populations, it is worthy of investigation in the Philippines and elsewhere to better understand the phenomenon for possible hazard mitigating solutions, if any. During the monsoon season, the change in flow direction of winds brings moist warm air to cross the mountains and volcanoes in western Philippines and cause lift into the atmosphere, which normally leads to heavy rains and floods. Heavy southwest monsoon rains from 18-21 August 2013 flooded Metro Manila (population of 12 million) and its suburbs paralyzing the nation’s capital for an entire week. Called the 2013 Habagat event, it was a repeat of the 2012 Habagat or extreme southwest monsoon weather from 6-9 August, which delivered record rains in the mega city. In both the 2012 and 2013 Habagat events, cyclones, the usual suspects for the delivery of heavy rains, were passing northeast of the Philippine archipelago, respectively, and enhanced the southwest monsoon. Analysis of Doppler data, rainfall measurements, and Weather Research and Forecasting (WRF) model simulations show that two large stratovolcanoes, Natib and Mariveles, across from Manila Bay and approximately 70 km west of Metro Manila, played a substantial role in delivering extreme rains and consequent floods to Metro Manila. The study highlights how volcanoes, with their shape and height create an orographic effect and dispersive tail of rain clouds which constitutes a significant flood hazard to large communities like Metro Manila

Chloroquine inhibits glioblastoma cell proliferation.

<p>U87MG and Gli36ΔEGFR cells were incubated with increasing concentrations of CQ for 7–10 days. At the end of the growth period colonies were fixed, stained and counted. After taking into account the plating efficiency for each cell line, the surviving fraction is the ratio of the number of colonies counted and the initial number of cells plated. Mean ± S.D., n = 3.</p